Handlamp switch



`lune 24 1924.

A. L. STAPLES HANDLAMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 8. 1920 lllll sin CII

Patented .lune 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES y 1,498,761 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L.v STAPLES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING RMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION F CONNECTICUT.

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

Application led November To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at N ew Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handlamp Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to portable electric lamps comprising a casing, a battery, and an incandescent lamp mounted therein, and a contact device on the casing by which the flow of current from the battery to the lamp may be controlled at will.

In a portable lamp of this character, it isdesirable that the user shall be able to flash the lamp,vthat is, light it, for short periods of time, as in signaling, or for such a time as it is convenient for the operator to hold his thumb on the contact device. 1t is also desirable that means be provided for closing the switch to light the lamp for a longer period of time and without the need for continuous thumb pressure on the contact mechanism, as explained at length in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,349,860, issued to me August 17, 1920.

1t is an object of the present invention to provide a hand lamp with an improved contact mechanism so arranged that the lamp can be ashed and can be permanently lighted, as desired. The several parts are so designed as to permit efficient manufacture by automatic metal working machines, and to permit of easy assembly into a reliable and effective Contact mechanism. Inadvertent closing of the circuit at the contact device is in large measure prevented, and any small irregularities either' in form or in position of the several parts are adequately taken care of, so that reliable opening and closing of the switch is at all times insured. The contact mechanism comprises a spring member manually operable for instantaneous contact with an opposed conductor, and locking means movable into engagement with the spring member to hold it in closed circuit position when a continuous light is desired, this locking means in the preferred embodiment being itself locked against movement until said spring member has been manually operated. This permits the hand lamp to be vmetal carrying a coil spring 4 which 8, 1920. Serial No. 422,408.

carried about and roughly handled with reasonable assurance that the switch will not be closed accidentally and the battery thus exhausted to no useful purpose.

@ther objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein` Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a hand lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the contact device;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the electrical circuit open;

Fig. 4 is a similar section with the circuit closed for continuous burning of the lamp;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 shows the contact mechanism as viewed from beneath;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of a contact element lamp; and

Fig. 8 is a detail ofthe sliding thumb-actuated member by which continuous burning of the light is effected.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the push button spring member.

In the embodiment illustrated, a casing- 1 of fiber or other suitable material is provided at its bottom end with 2 on which is mounted a bottom cap 3 of engages the naked bottom of the lowermost dry cell 5 and establishes electrical connection therewith. The uppermost dry cell 6 has its inner` or carbon electrode Tin contact with the inner terminal of the lamp 8, and the outer or threaded terminal of the lamp Ais connected, as through a reiiector 9, with the front curved and yielding end of a conductor 10, which may be in the form of a flat strip, and leads to a contact device conveniently positioned near the middle of the casing. The lamp is provided with a lens 11 held in position by a flanged threaded collar 12having engagement with a threaded ring 13 mounted at the front end of tube l. Preferably the periphery of reflector 9 is insu lated from collar 12 and ring 13 to prevent inadvertent lighting of the lamp when the lamp is laid down on a metal surface.

The contact device comprises an escutchyielding secured to the casing of the a threaded ring the housing at its lower end, as by means of' a rivet 1:8, and movable at its upper end intO and out of contact with a yielding contact element19, which preferably is a flat spring strip secured under the lowermost ofj the two Arivets 1,0 by which strip 10 is securely anchored to the casing. Element Y 1,9 may advantageouslyA extend beyond rivet 1'0" and", have this extension bent down at 19 to seat in a hole in the'fiber ofthe casing. This prevents the element 19 from swinging on rivet 10 as a pivot.

Spring member 1'( has a relatively large push buttonV or thumb-piece 20 which is. exposed at an opening in housing 1 6, but does not project appreciably abovetheouterface or edgeA of the housing.V

The structure above describedV can be manipulated by pressure on the push button or thumb-piece 20 ofi the flexible spring member 17 to flashthe lamp. TheY structure canl be laid down on, ak flat surface with,- out danger of closing the switch, for the thumb-piece 20- is protectedY by thel encircling edge ofy the housing. l

To permit the lamp to remain lighted without the need fory continuous pressure on the thumb-piece 20, there is provided a, locking means comprising auxiliary thumbactuated. member: 22, preferably in the forfmlofjaflat plate, stampedv from sheet metal. to the shape shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,I with projecting. lnurled lugs 23 which, during the operations ofl assembly, can be bent downto the. positions shown in full, lines V(Fig. 8) to leave longitudinal recesses 24 which permit sliding movement of,l the thumbfpiece with respect to the housf ing` as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Springl member 17 and its integral push button 2O are slotted, to receive the slidingw thumb-piece 22theinner straight edge offwhich has a square corner 25 which, initial'ly strikes against the end ofI the slot in.

spring` member 17 (Fig. 3) to locli the slid:` ingthumb-piece against movement; But after inward pressure onpush button 2O andthe resultant swinging of spring mem ber= 1f?, this. corner-, 2,5.will clear, member, 1,7 (Fig, 4) and can then be pushed forward tolock that springmember, in,- its depressed orV circuit-closing position. When Vthe parts.

arein the positionshownin Fig. 4, the outward pressure of spring 17 frictionally en-` gages, the inner edge of'! the sliding thumbvSpring contact member l yieldingly' holds the-parts in the position shown in F 4, while the lamp is being used, but does n ot prevent return of the Vauxiliary tliumb-piece 22 to the retracted position shown inY Fig. 3. It will therefore be understood, that with the parts positionedA as shown in Fig. 3, the push button or thumbpiece 2O can be freely manipulated to flashthe lamp and` that when a permanent light is. desired, the thumb of the operator can be wiped@ upward across the thumb-piece 2()` to unlock shoulder 25 and thereafter can slide auxiliary thiunbrpiece 22 into the position shown in Fig'.` 4 and the lamp will burn continuously. llt is in these manipulations. that the yielding character of eon-V taet element 19 becomes particularly importan@r for any slight inaccuracy of ad,- justment in the relation ofl spring member 17( and sliding member 2 2 at the engaging shoulder 25iiscompensated, for by the yielding character of element 19;.V The push button can be depressed fai; enough tol easily clear shoulder V2 5 from the slot in, spring element 17 and yet when, the thumb pressure on the buttonisv removed, andV the spring element comes backY i'nto engagement with the straight face of, member- 22, as shown inFig; 4 there willV still be electricalconnectim betweenl the two. opposed contact elements ofi' the switch., The bentA end 19 off element 19 beingl embedded', in the ber, prevents that element from swingingy on'. itsl rivet, and, likewise, the twotrivets. 10 hold strip 1 0 against displacement when endcap is unscrewedi and. the reflector and lens4 are taken, outv for adjustment or, r-,enewal of' the lamp bulb.

l-l am aware tl'iatfvariouschanges. may be made in the details off the present invention without departing from the s pirt thereof as definedjby Athe appended claims.

Il claim i 1. A, contact device for battery hand l amps comprising al spring member having athumb piece manually operable toliex the spring member into circuit-closing,position, the eX- posed'. part. of said thumb-,piece being slotted, and? means manually, movable inthe slot of .saidV thumbpiece andA into engagement with Said', spring member tnlock. said member in closed; position, v

2. contactdeviee fon battery handlamps comprising ayielding; cont-act element eX,-v

Vtending longitudinally ofA the hand lamp cas-- ing.v andyf secured te. the outside thereof, a

sp,1.ii1gl member. manually. operable for in.- stantaneeus. contact with the yielding conf tactg, locl'ung means, movableintm engagement with said spring member to hold said member in closed position when a continuous light is desired, said locking means being itself locked against movement until said spring member has been manually operated.

A contact device for bat-tery hand lamps comprising a yielding contact element, a spring member manually operable for instantaneous Contact therewith, said spring member having an exposed longitudinalslot, locking means movable along said slot into engagement with said spring member to hold said member in closed position when a con tinuous light is desired, said locking means being itself locked against movement until said spring member has been manually operated.

4. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a yielding contact element, an opposed leaf-spring having a push button by which it may be manually operated to flash the lamp, said push button having a slot, a sliding thumb-actuated member positioned in said slot and engageable with said spring to hold it in circuit-closing position, said sliding member being locked against said sliding movement until after said spring member has been manually depressed.

5. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a housing, a yielding contact element Within said housing and secured to the outside of the hand lamp casing, an opposed leaf-spring having a push button by which it may be manually operated to flash the lamp, a sliding thumb-actuated member engageable With said spring to hold it in circuit-closing position, said sliding member being locked against said sliding movement until after said spring member has been manually depressed.

6. A contact device forwbattery hand lamps comprising a housing, a yielding contact element enclosed in said housing and extending longitudinally thereof, an opposed spring member fastened at one end to said housing and movable at its other end to close the circuit, said spring member having an exposed longitudinal slot, and means positioned in said slot and movable along said housing into locking engagement with the free end of said spring member when the circuit is to remain closed.

7 A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a housing, a yielding Contact element enclosed in said housing and fixed to the outside of the hand lamp casing, an opposed spring member fastened at one end to said housing and movable at its other end to close the circuit, and means movable along said housing into engagement with the outer face of the free end of said spring member to lock said member in closed circuit position.

8. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a housing, a spring member secured at one end to said housing and having a thumb piece at its other end manually operable to flex the spring member and thereby close the circuit through the lamp, said thumb piece having a slot extending across its exposed face, and an auxiliary thumb piece positioned in said slot and mounted to slide along said housing and carrying means engageable with said spring member to lool-z it in closed position when continuous lighting of the lamp is desired.

9. A Contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a housing, a spring member mounted therein and movable to close the circuit, a push button for actuating said spring member, said push button having a slot, and a thumb-piece positioned in said slot and mounted to slide in one direction along said housing, and having means to hold the spring member in closed-circuit position, said thumb-piece being itself so shaped as to be locked by the spring meinber until after the spring member has been depressed.

10. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a fiber casing, a conductor on the inside of said casing and secured thereto by a pair of rivets, a yielding contact element secured to the outside of said casing and secured by one of said rivets, a housing enclosing said rivets and said yielding element, and a swinging spring member in said housing manually movable into engagement with said yielding element when the lamp is to be lighted.

11. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a liber casing, a yielding contact element secured to the outside of said casing, a housing enclosing said yielding element, a spring member positioned in said housing and manually operable for instantaneous contact with said yielding element, locking means movable into engagement with said spring member to hold said member in closed position when a continuous light is desired, said locking means being itself locked against movement until said member has been manually operated.

12. A contact device for battery hand lamps comprising a fiber casing having a conductor on the inside thereof and riveted thereto, a yield-ing contact element on the outside of said casing and secured by one of said rivets, a housing enclosing said yielding contact element, a spring member mounted in said housing and movable into contact with said yielding element to close the circuit, a push button for actuating said spring member, said push button having a slot, and a thumb-piece positioned in said slot and mounted to slide in one direction along said housing and having means to hold the spring member in closed-circuit position, said thumb-piece being itself so shaped as to be locked by the spring memllt) ber until after the spring member hns been depressed.

13. A Contact device for battery hznnd lamps comprising housing, spring meinber secured nt one end to sn-ifd housing zuidhnvng n lpush button at its other end manunlly operable to, ifex the spring member and thereby close thev eireuit through the lmnp, snid push button having n slot, and n thumb-v pieee positioned in said slot land mounted to slide along said housing, said thumb-piece consisting of n flut plate notched 'te simulta-V neously engage the housing en. both sides of the push button and' shaped to engage with said spring member to leek it in closed position When Continuous lighting of the lemp; isy desired.

14e. A Contact device for battery hand:

1,49egrze1 lamps comprising e housing, a springV member secured et one endE to ssid hou-sing and having n push button at its other end: Vm-n'nu-V diy operzvbl'e tov flex the spring member ain-dthereby closer the oil-cuit tlrrouglr the lamp-f, sniid pusir button. having' slot,l andI e thumbpiece positioned? in seid slot and mounted to slide along seid housing, said tliumb-pieee consisting of a lint plete notched to sliding-ly engage the housing on both sides' of said push button, and having means to hol'df thel spring member in closed-circuit position when desired, seid thumb-piege being itself so shaped as toz be locked by the springV member until after the spring member has been depressed.

In testimony whereof aHiX my signature'.

ARTHUR srArLEs. 

